Circuit interrupter



swfu z8, 1926. 1,601,314

J. N. MAHONEY CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Original Filed D90- 8, 1917 lNVENTOR WITNESSES: m

Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNITEDL STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH N. MAHONEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEVI YORK, ASSIG-NOR T0 XVESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

Original application filed December 8, 1917, Serial No. 206,131.

November 30, 1920.

This application is a division of application, Serial No. 206,131, tiled Dec. 8, .1917. My invention relates to circuit interruptcrs and particularly to circuit interrupters of the quick-acting type such as that shown and described in my Patent No. 1,431,- 970, granted Oct. 17, 1922, of which this` application is a division.

i The object of my invention is to provide a circuit interrupter that shall have Contact members of such shape and construction and that shall be so provided with arc dissipat- .ing means between stationary contact meinbers thereof as to permit the same to be placed relatively close together, thereby pei.'- mitting the interrupter to be more econonncally and compactly constructed and of 1inprovcd operating characteristics.

lileretotore. it has been usual to provide certain types of circuit interrupters with spaced stationary contact members and a bridging contact member therebetween.' These .interrupters have usually required that the stationary contact members be placed a relatively great distance apart to prevent the formation of arcs therebetween and, as a result, have been unnecessarily bulky and expensive. t

In practicing my invention, I provide laminated stationary contact members and arcing horn members of such form and relation to a rigid bridging contact member as to permit the latter to be of substantially minimum length.

The single figure of the accompanying drawings is front elevational view of the circuit interruptor embodying my invention.

A circuit interrupter 1 comprises, 1n gcneral, a supporting member or frame 2, stationary main contact members 3, combination horn-gap and auxiliary stationary arcing contact members 4, a slidable multi-part rod structure 5 having a main bridging contact member 6 and an auxiliary bridging contact member 7 mounted at the upper end thereof and a toggle or operating mechanism 8 disposed between the lower end of the rod structure 5 and a stationary pin 9. An electromagnet 10 is adapted to be energized for the purpose of upsetting the toggle mechanism 8 to trip the. interrupter 1.

Terminal members or studs 11, that are suitably spaced with respect to yeach other and disposed at substantially right angles to ividcd and this application filed Serial No. 427,303.

tact members 3. Screws 14 secure the inem bers 3 between the seat portions 13 and movable clamping blocks 15 having upper surfaces 1 6 conforming to the members 3.

The combination horn-gap and auxiliary stationary arcing contact members et comprise upwardly diverging horn portions 17 having auxiliary contact portions 1S at their lower ends and rear portions 19 through which screws 2O extend to secure the same to the blocks 12. Elongated members 21 are disposed substantially radially with respect to the auxiliary contact members 7 between the members 4 to prevent the arc, incident to the opening of the interrupter, from bowing outwardly too far from the interrupter.

The rod structure 5 comprises a lower rod 22 and an upper exteriorly-threaded sleeve 23 that are, respectively, mounted in insulating blocks 24 and 25 joined by screws 26. An insulating plate. 27 is disposed between the blocks 24 and 25. This arrangement effectually insulates the contact members from the operating mechanism.

The main bridging Contact member 6 is of substantially inverted U-shape having end portions 28 for engagement with the main stationary contact members 3 and an interiorly-thrcaded center recessed portion by which it is mounted on the upper end of the Sleeve 23.

A pin 29 secures the auxiliary bridging contact member 7 to the upper end of a plunger 30 disposed in the sleeve 23 in the lower portion of which a. compression spring 31 extends between the inner end of the plunger 30 and the plate 27. A pin 32 extends through the main bridging contact member 6, through the sleeve 23 and through let Si in tbe plunger 30. A nut- 33 is pre ded to loci; tlie sleeve 23 in position with respect to the block The arrangement whereby tbe pin 82 extends through tbe inain bridging Contact niernber G, tlie sleeve Q3 and tlie slotI 33 preyents the angular displacement or the ineinber G about tbe rod structure 5 and permits tbe outward inorenient ot tlie plunger 30 with respect to the sleeve 23.

ln operation, when tbe toggle mechanism S is upset, the rod structure inoyes quickly downward to separate tbe niain bridgi Contact ineniber G treni tbe inain stationar" contact nienibers By reason ot the lo motion arrangement oit the auxiliary bridging contact ineniber with respect to tbe niain bridging nieniber G, tl einber 7 will remain in Contact witli tire auxiliary contact portions 1S until 'tbe main bridging' ineinber G is soinewliat reinoyed frein tle Contact nienibers 3, atteiwliicli the ciicuit will be broken at trie auxiliary Contact nien'ibers and any are tornied will be dissipated along tlie bern portions 1T.

in interrupter constructed in accordance with niy invention provides good contact between tlie contact nienibcrs, is "Very coinpact and, therefore, economical to inanutacture.

a longitudinal s ticular torni ot iny invention, changes inay be etlccted tlierein without departing' lroin tlie spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in tbe appended claims.

I claini as iny invention l. A Circuit interrupter comprising a pair ot spaced leat`-spring stationary contact nieinbers disposed in substantially inverse flaring relation, a movable bridging Contact nieinber 'lor engagement witli the adjacent ends thereof, a pair of horn-gap members eacli having a contact portion disposed between tlie stationary contact members and being connected in paired relation to one ot the latter, and an auxiliary contaetinem bei' for tze-operation with said Contact portions.

2. A contact ineinber for an electrical device con'iprising a base ineinber, clamping bolts secured thereto, clamping blocks provided with co-operatiiig curved surfaces secured by said bolts, and a laminated Contact brush secured between said blocks.

A Contact ineniber for an electrical device comprising a base ineinber, clamping belts secured thereto, clamping blocks provvided with co-operating curved surfaces secured by said bolts, a laminated contact brush secured between said blocks, and an auxiliary Contact ineniber secured to one of said blocks and terminating adjacent to the 'free end of said brush.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed niy naine this 23 day of November, 1920.

' JOSEPH N. MAHONEY. 

